4 A Foreign Service for climate and green transition

This chapter describes practical priorities and measures to strengthen the Foreign Service in its work on the goals, key areas and priorities described in previous chapters.

4.1 More systematic analysis of information and trends

The complex international framework for climate action requires the capacity to identify and analyse trends and developments. The attitudes and positions of various actors are constantly changing, and it is difficult to maintain an overview. The Foreign Service co-operates extensively with a number of Norwegian and foreign research and analysis environments. However, there is a need to strengthen the Foreign Service’s own ability to utilise and process relevant information in order to translate it into practical tools.

There is a need for a more detailed and updated analysis of actors as a basis for assessing alliances and partnerships, and how Norway relates to and works to influence actors who do not necessarily share Norway’s priorities. To a greater extent than we are accustomed to, likeminded countries may now be found in regions beyond Europe and North America.

For these purposes, there is a need for a dedicated role within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to lead an internal network for climate and actor analysis, and to have the capacity to represent Norway in the many relevant international arenas that do not involve political-level participation and take place outside the climate negotiations. This capacity will complement and co-operate with resources in other government ministries, e.g., the Ministry of Climate and Environment, and be in line with established Norwegian positions.

The Foreign Service shall prioritise:

• continuation of the co-operation with relevant specialist environments in order to strengthen expertise and the professional basis for the Foreign Service’s climate action;
• ensuring that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the capacity and expertise to conduct the necessary internal analyses of geopolitics, climate, security, energy and actors.

Measure(s):

• Dedicate a position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the main task of leading an internal analysis team to follow climate-relevant trends. Consideration will be given to whether the post holder should also represent Norway in relevant and key international forums, other than the international climate negotiations.

4.2 Easier access to resources and expertise

Timely and efficient access to knowledge and resources across organisational units is essential for the Foreign Service to support the implementation of Norwegian climate and environmental policy. Given that climate is a cross-cutting priority, basic knowledge of climate challenges and Norwegian policy for climate and green transition is needed in all parts of the Foreign Service. This is already included in internal training, but there is a need to strengthen the programme and make it more flexible and adapted to different needs. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Service Institute is responsible for training and skills development programmes. The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) is an important technical advisor on development issues. Other government ministries have their own programmes for their employees.

The newly established Departementsakademiet (Norwegian Government Academy) is responsible for the joint government ministry course activities, while the Norwegian Agency for Public and Financial Management manages the joint digital learning platform for the central government. All of these resources can be utilised to improve the training and skills development programmes for the Foreign Service. In addition to better utilisation of the overall resources, this will also help to make the training programmes available to more people across all government ministries. In addition to in-person courses, flexibility can be enhanced by utilising digital solutions such as nanocourses and digital webinars that participants can attend in real time or at their convenience. Artificial intelligence (AI) is already in use, and could further improve access to information, resources and expertise in the Foreign Service’s climate action.

In the ongoing work, there is already access to high-quality internal and external sources of information on climate and green transition. A challenge, however, is that these sources are dispersed across numerous bodies, including government ministries, directorates and through co-operation with external resource centres. The challenge is exacerbated by the fact that information sources are often grouped by subject area, and with the stronger connection between climate and, e.g., energy, security and trade, it is desirable to ensure easier access across thematic areas. In addition to access to information, there is often also a need for good and easy access to specialist expertise, e.g., when an embassy organises conferences, seminars or important meetings on climate-relevant topics that require specialist knowledge. This knowledge can be found in government ministries, directorates, research institutions or in the private sector.

The Foreign Service shall prioritise:

• ensuring good and relevant basic training and expertise on climate challenges and Norwegian policy for climate and green transition;
• simplified access to relevant specialist expertise and resources for more focused initiatives that the Foreign Service itself initiates or participates in.

Measure(s):

• Strengthen the training and skills development programme in the Foreign Service, making it more flexible and adapted through increased use of digital solutions and, where appropriate, in co-operation with other government ministries, the Norwegian Government Academy and the Norwegian Agency for Public and Financial Management.
• Further develop the resource base on climate, energy and green transition in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs into a unified platform – a knowledge bank – for, e.g., key policy documents, updated information on Norwegian positions and messages, and contact information for other government ministries and partnering institutions.

4.3 Effective communication

To achieve the goals of the strategy, it is important to communicate openly, actively and in a coordinated manner. This applies both to Norway’s policies and priorities, and to the country’s actions and contributions to combat climate change and promote green transition.

Communication from the Foreign Service is a strategic tool that can contribute to awareness of and impact for Norwegian positions, e.g., as a basis for co-operation in areas and on measures that are important to Norway. Fact-based communication is more important than ever in an era characterised by both deliberate and inadvertent misinformation about climate challenges and increasing divergence in how various actors approach these challenges. Good communication is important in a reputational context, both in positive contexts and where negative publicity can pose reputational challenges, and to correct erroneous information.

The message can be adapted to different recipients. Many of the measures Norway is contributing to have several positive effects in addition to combating climate change. Such positive effects may include job creation, improved public health, increased electricity supply for populations lacking access, higher crop yields, increased incomes and market opportunities, or forest conservation that contributes not only to climate action, but also to biodiversity preservation and the rights of indigenous peoples. Although Norway’s principle objective is to address the threat of climate change, such positive outcomes can be highlighted depending on the main interests of the recipient.

Promoting Norwegian business interests is one of the Foreign Service’s key tasks. Good and coordinated communication can contribute to better knowledge of and interest in the solutions that Norwegian businesses have to offer, thereby helping to strengthen Norwegian businesses in international competition. Norwegian lessons and experiences in addressing climate challenges may also be useful for others to share, in the same way that we can learn from others.

To be effective, communication from the Foreign Service should have a recognisable core message across organisational divides. There are only a few individuals in the Foreign Service who specialise in climate, and the service must therefore be able to communicate clearly and factually about Norwegian climate policy, and have knowledge of Norwegian technology and solutions that can contribute to the transition needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Several government ministries contribute to, and benefit from, the work of the Foreign Service. As part of the follow-up of this strategy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take the initiative to develop closer co-operation between the government ministries most affected with the aim of strengthening more uniform and coordinated communication through the Foreign Service about Norwegian policies, initiatives and measures for climate and green transition. This applies to both domestic and international measures to reduce emissions and contribute to adaptation and transition. Consideration may be given to involving the business-oriented policy instruments led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries in the work.

The Foreign Service shall prioritise:

• strengthening the ability to communicate consistently about Norwegian policies, measures and initiatives, domestically and internationally, to address the climate threat;
• factual and up-to-date information that is relevant to the recipients, including to help correct erroneous information;
• adapting communication to local conditions.

Measure(s):

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take the initiative to develop closer and more systematic co-operation between the government ministries most affected to ensure a more uniform, co-ordinated and effective communication through the Foreign Service about Norwegian policies, initiatives and measures for climate and green transition;
• Based on local conditions, the foreign service mission shall assess how they can strengthen their communication work, through their own communication plans or in other suitable ways.

4.4 A climate and environmentally aware organisation

A clear climate and environmental profile in line with our national and international commitments is important for how Norway is perceived, both at foreign service missions and domestically. It is also important for the Foreign Service as an employer to have employees with a commitment to climate and the environment. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ operational strategy, Strategy 25, states that the Foreign Service shall be climate- and environment-friendly. The strategy provides guidelines for the Ministry and the foreign service missions in their operational planning.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to reducing its adverse environmental impact through the Eco Management and Audit Scheme ( EMAS ) and its performance is assessed and verified annually. The Ministry delivers on common goals across the government ministries and also has its own goals. The work includes reducing energy consumption, increasing environmentally friendly procurement and sorting waste. One of the objectives in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel policy is to reduce our climate footprint. Emissions from air travel were reduced by around 40 per cent from 2019 to 2023.

In addition to travel, one of the service’s biggest carbon footprints is related to property and energy use. In 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will move into the new Government Quarter, where environmental and climate considerations are among the key guidelines. Sustainability is also an important part of the Foreign Service’s Property Management Strategy. Embassy buildings and official residences are to promote environmentally friendly and energy-efficient solutions. Sustainable solutions shall be a guiding criterion for lease agreements. The Norwegian government’s building commissioner, property manager and developer, Statsbygg, which owns and manages many of the official residences and embassy buildings, adopts a comprehensive approach to sustainability and makes more long-term climate and environmental investments than is possible with short-term leases.

The Foreign Service operates under very different conditions in different parts of the world. Significant efforts are already being made at the foreign service missions to make their operations more climate- and environment-friendly. When replacing older vehicles, foreign service missions are asked to consider environmentally friendly alternatives. Interest in electric vehicles is increasing in line with the development of charging infrastructure at the place of service. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on a framework for foreign service missions that want to draw up their own plans and targets for reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The Foreign Service shall prioritise:

• being a climate- and environment-friendly service at all levels;
• achieving the government ministries’ common goals and contributing to annual environmental reporting through the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).

Measure(s):

• Work across the board to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of our own operations;
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will establish a framework for foreign service missions that want to draw up their own plans and targets for reduced greenhouse gas emissions.